Buckle



(No Model.)

R.- G. HANFORD, JI.

BUCKLE. No. 275,204. Y Patented Apr.3,1883.

`NITRD STATES ROBERT e. HANFORD, JR., on COLUMBUS, OHIO.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFIGATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 275,204, dated April 3, 1883.

Application filed October 5, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom 'it may concern:

4Be it known that I, ROBERT G. HANFORD, Jr., of Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

This improvement is especially designed for buckles which are used in connection with the hip-straps of harness; but it is applicable to buckles designed for other uses.

The improvement consists in a buckle comprising a plate longitudinally convexed on the outer side, a tongue extending from the outer side thereof, two loops, arranged one at each end of the convexed portion of the plate, and having their inner sides approximately in line, and bearings arranged adjacent to and approximately parallel with the loops, all combined substantially as hereinafter described, whereby a strap applied to the buckle is caused by the loops to tightly hug the convex side of the plate, and is maintained in engagement with the tongue.

The improvement also consists in the combination, in a buckle, of a plate or piece longitudinally convexed, a rigid tongue extending therefrom, two loops arranged adjacent thereto, one on each side thereof, for holding a strap on the tongue, and an eye made integral with the plate or piece.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a buckle embodying my improvement, including a strap with which the buckle is used. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of another buckle of modified construction. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section thereof, and Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the latter.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A designates a plate, of iron or other suitable material. It is of about the width of an ordinary harness hip-strap, and is longitudinally convexed. About the middle of thelen gth ofthe plate or of its convexed portion a tongue, a, made integral with/it, extends outwardly from it. Near the ends of the plate are two loops, b b', which have their inner sides in line. Beyond one of the loops, b', is preferably an eye, c, and beyond each loop is a bearing, b2.

The end of a strap, B, to be fastened to this buckle, is slipped through the loop b, then coincident with the inner side of the loops.

The convexity of the plate or piece therefore holds the strap snugly against the adjacent sides ofthe loops and lessens the liability of the disengagement of the strap from the tongue.

The bearings b2, acting in conjunction with the loops bb', form curves or bends in the strap, which are the reverse of the bend formedby the convexity of the plate or piece A, and the strap, when slackened, is less liable to rise or move away from the plate or piece and out of engagement with its tongue than it would be if the bearings were not used.

This buckle is simple and cheap, and can be applied to a harness or other article with less labor and expense than an ordinary buckle.

VIt is more easy to use than an ordinary buckle,

its appearance is neater, and the tail of a horse or other article is less liable to catch on it.

The various parts ot' this buckle and the eye c may be cast in one piece, it' desirable, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The plate may be entirely covered with leather, and the loops b b may be made of leather, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. In the latter case the eye c may be made independently of the plate and fastened to it by the leather covering.

In Figs. 3 and 4 the leather covering of the plate or piece forms bearings b2 beyond the loops, and said bearings are approximately parallel with the inner sides of the loops.

I am aware that a buckle has been made comprising a plate longitudinally curved on one side, and provided on that side with a projecting tongue, and also with loops. The angle occupied by the inner sides ofthe loops in relation to each other made them conform approximately to the curve of the plate. Hence when a strap was applied to the buckle the loops tended to bend the strap in the same di. rection as the curve of the plate.

It will be observed that in my buckle the IOC inner sides of the loops are approximately in line, and hence that they tend to bend the strap in reverse directions to the bend which is imparted to it by the curve of the plate. The loops thus cause the strap to hug the curved plate more closely than they would if the inner sides of the loops were at angles conforming to the curve of the plate. The bearings Which are provided for the strap under or beyond the loops conduce to this result. The greater the tendency which the strap has to hug the plate the more secure will be the engagement of the strap with the tongue; hence my improvement is a valuable one.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. Abucklecomprisinga'platelongitudinally convexed on the outer side, a tongue extending from the outer side thereof, two loops, arranged one at each end of the curved portion of the plate, and having their inner sides approximately in line, and bearin gs arranged adjacent to and approximately parallel with the loops, all combined substantially as herein described, whereby a strap applied to the buckle is caused by the loops to tightly hug the convex side of theplate, and is maintained in engagement with the tongue.

2. The combination, in a buckle, of a plate orpiecelongitudinally convexed, a rigid tongue extending therefrom, two loops arranged adjacent thereto, one on each side thereof', for holding a strap on the tongue, and an eye made integral with the plate or piece, substantially as specified.

ROBERT G. HANFORD, JR. 

